This year I am riding the Colorado Childrens Hospital Courage Classic ride with many kiddos in mind, though especially Ripley. Ripley is the daughter of my bff Ian, and although she is doing great now at just over 2 years old, spent a long while after her birth in the Childrens NICU recovering from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. I remember Ian and Caitlyn telling me about all the great staff they connected with while they were in the hospital with Ripley, for months. As health care staff myself it means a lot when family / friends tell you they were really able to connect with healthcare workers, because that is the spark and purpose behind getting my ass to work, despite the challenges our healthcare system faces. It's connection, communication, and understanding that family and staff are working together to overcome what can seem at the time as near-insurmountable challenges.
If you have the means and time, please help blow my fundraising goal out of the water and help the staff, families, and patients like Ripley Delores Dunbar.
